When introducing solid foods in your baby's diet, you have a lot ot think about. Watching for an allergic reaction, knowing that your baby is eating healthy food, and knowing how to safely store those new foods safely are just a few concerns that parents have today.
Watching for an Allergic Reaction
When introducing new foods to your 4-6 month old, it is important to introduce only one food at a time, leaving approximatly 4-7 days between new foods to watch for a reaction. Reactions to watch for include a bullseye rash on baby's bottom, a rash on face, diarrhea, increased fussiness, and increased gas.
When deciding what food to introduce, avoid giving baby eggs, honey and cow milk before her first birthday. Also avoid any other foods that family members may be allergic to, as allergies can run in a family. Allowing a baby's digestive system to mature a little longer before introducing those foods may help prevent an alergic reaction.
Bananas, applesauce and rice cereal, although common first solid foods for baby, may cause constipation. If your baby seems to become constipated from the new solid foods in her diet, try these foods that are high in fiber and may help: apricots, prunes, peaches, plums, pears, and peas.
Healthy Foods for Baby to Eat
These baby food recipes never need to have any salt or sugar added. Feel free to thin any puree with water, breast milk or formula or thicken with rice cereal to achieve desired consistency.
Banana Puree
Peal a ripe banana, mash it to desired texture. You should not need a blender for this.
Avocado Puree
Avocados do not need to be cooked. Simply peel, remove the pit, and mash the meat. You should not need a blender for this.
Pear Puree
Peal the pear, cut it into pieces and steam cook it until tender. Place the fruit in a blender or food processor and puree.
Sweet Potato Puree
Wash the potato and poke holes in it with a fork. Wrap the potato in plastic wrap and microwave it for 5-10 minutes or until tender. Remove the skin, place in blender or food processor and puree.
Applesauce Puree
Peel, core, and dice desired number of apples. Steam the apples in a small amount of water on stove. When tender, use blender or food processor to puree.
Green Bean or Pea Puree
Fresh beans: snap ends off, and wash. Steam them until tender; puree in blender.
Fresh peas: open pod and scrap peas out. Steam them until tender; puree in blender.
Frozen beans or peas: cook according to directions on packaging; puree in blender.
Tip: blender often works better than food processor for beans and peas.
Carrot Puree
Peel and cut carrots into pieces. Steam them until tender, then puree in blender.
Safe Storage of Home Made Baby Food
Store the homemade baby food in your refrigerator for up to 48 hours, or your freezer for up to two months. Freeze food in ice cube trays for easy portions. Be careful when heating baby food in the microwave as foods may heat unevenly.
Remember when feeding your baby solid foods to keep a keen eye for a reaction, introduce healthy foods and store those foods safely. Watch your baby for cues that she wants more and that she is done, and do not force your baby to overeat.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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